14
NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 1996
Calling old
Sea dogs have a nose for trouble
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AN EXHIBITION illustrating the history of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service is due to open in the Historic Dockyard at Chatham next Spring. Organisers hope to include everything from the days of the Royal Naval Minewatching Service and the Admiralty Ferry Crew Association right up to the RNXS disbandment in 1994.
FOUR trainee Army explosives search dogs were put through their paces on board HMS Arun as part of their specialist training. The dogs, who will soon be permanently deployed with the Northern Ireland Squadron, spent a week in the ship with their two Army handlers. The dogs were selected for their tolerance of life at sea and their outstanding abilities to search for terrorist materials during boarding operations. Although they brought their own accommodation, HMS Arun is (probably!) the only ship in the Fleet to have a purpose-built kennel on deck. HMS Arun's Commanding Officer, Lt Andy Hancock, said:
"The dogs are an invaluable asset to our operations and they are also good for morale on board. HMS Arun has recently returned to the Northern Ireland Squadron from fishery protection duties. Right: Trainee explosives search dogs Benson and Jess take a rest in HMS Arun's boat with their handlers, Cpl Strange and Cpl Vedere.
Items wanted If you have anything of interest to loan or present to the museum, the dockyard's volunteer service would like to hear from you. Donors should write to The Chairman, Dockyard Volunteer Service, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TE with a brief description of their offerings.
Captain's name will live on THE ROYAL Naval Hydrographic School has replaced its ageing fleet of survey motor boats with four new purpose-built vessels.
The new Hydrographic School Survey Motor Boat Pat Barton underway.
Picture: HMS Drake Photographic
Devonport integration goes one step further DEVONPORT'S continued development as an integrated naval base has passed another milestone with the merger of Director Supply (West) and his team with that of Devonport Naval Base. The new organisation known as Director Logistics (DLogs) brings an extra dimension to the logistics support Devonport supplies to the Fleet. DLogs heads a team which can supply anything a ship or submarine might require in the way of stores, fuel, ammunition, and some victualling requirements, and similar support is also given to DML and to shore establishments in the western area. The merger results from the saving measures after "Options for Change" and "Front Line First" which left DS(W)'s organisation almost entirely concerned with supporting the Fleet on Devonport waterfront.
The new Director of Logistics is the Naval Base Management Board Director responsible for logistics and his team is divided into three main sections, Armaments division, Naval Stores division and the Base Supply division.
Liaison teams set up The Armament stores remain concentrated around the Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Ernesettle while a new Waterfront Customer Liaison Team and Waterfront Supply Team have been set up to draw on the particular strengths of both the uniformed and civilian workforce. Information Technology staffs at Devonport Naval Base were combined last April and a single training department was created in June.
The boats have all been named after hydrographers who were highly regarded in their day, and one of the latest honours Captain Pat Barton, who died after a car crash in 1992. Captain Barton was extremeThe boats' comprehensive ly popular and was widely range of equipment includes a respected as a hydrographic global ' ' ' positioning *'_»— *— system for surveyor. navigation, digital gyro, autopilot, high frequency and very His widow, Mrs Clare high frequency radio and a Barton, officially named the boat at a ceremony attended by Navtex receiver. Captain Barton's mother and two daughters as well as many Hydrographic School staff. The SMBPat Barton goes into service alongside SMBs Cook, Owen and Nesbitt. The vessels are all designed to run at a minimum of 12 knots even when fully loaded and can maintain a steady and continuous three knots when conducting surveys. They can carry nine personnel and and are fitted to take the Royal Navy's latest digital survey systems.
Atlantic anomaly studied RESEARCH conducted with the help of survey ship HMS Hecla has been going down a STORM in scientific circles. The ship has helping to study the sub tropical oceanographic ring of magnitude (STORM), a giant eddy in the Atlantic produced by the Azores current. Lying 800km south west of the islands and measuring some 400km across, the STORM creates a fascinating oceanographic anomaly with huge volumes of water circulating anti-clockwise. The research was conducted with drogue buoys on the way back from exercise Purple Star in the USA, with Mr Colin Griffiths and Or Robin Pingree from Plymouth Marine Laboratory, West Hoe, who joined the ship in Virginia.
CCF needs active chiefs Lt Cdr Richard Labone and Dr Robin Pingree observe as CPO Palmer deploys a drogue to study the STORM. Picture: AB<SR) s Holden
DO YOU sail, canoe, dive, shoot, parachute, windsurf, outward bound and enjoy the company of young people? If your activities cover the above activities, among others, and you are due shore time, the Combined Cadet Force (RN) Headquarters (Staff of 2SL/CNH) would like to hear from you. Twelve active service Chief Petty Officers of any specialisation are employed to work from home to liaise with 130 schools with CCF (RN) sections.
Climbers celebrate peak performances
Qualifications Outdoor qualifications, though not essential, are always helpful. If you can help, contact the CCF (RN) Training Chief Petty Officer CPO (Ops) (M) at Portsmouth on Victory Building 27708.
Members of the Combined Cadet Force (RN) with their instructor
NAVY climbers from two separate expeditions are celebrating their successes this summer. Surgeon Commander Andy Hughes and Fit Lt Steve Hunt joined Sgt Dan Carroll and Cpl John Doyle in the joint services expedition to become the first all-British team to conquer the 26,470ft Gasherbrum, or 'Hidden Mountain' peak in Pakistan. The expedition's Junior team, which included Lt Ben Maclnnes and Mne Paul Hooper, achieved their aim by climbing a 19,000 peak which they named Brakk Jangjumpa after their guide. Medical projects during the expedition were tackled by Carol Windie from the Institute of Naval Medicine assisted by mountaineer and doctor Surgeon Lt Deborah Kerr. • Lt Cdr Paul Gorsuch joined other members of the Armed Forces Pay and Review Body on a strenuous two-day visit to the Royal Marines Brigade Patrol Troop in the Alps. The AFPRB will soon be examining Mountain Leader pay and were keen to see them in their natural environment.